Dylan YoungBubble tea, a milk tea with tapioca balls, has been around for a long time, but I only knew about it in recent years, thanks to viral videos on TikTok. And when I finally tried it in 2021 (yes, I know I’m late to the trend), there was no going back for me.
Now, getting bubble tea is my go-to activity no matter the mood.
Since 2021, I’ve tried many bubble tea spots in Toronto, and I’m sharing my favorites! If you’re craving bubble tea yourself, try these out!
Chatime
Address: 662 Dundas St E
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday—12 pm to 12 am
- Thursday to Saturday—12 pm to 1 am
Contact Number: +14164075535
Chatime is arguably the biggest teahouse chain that’s widely known for bubble tea. This franchise originates in Taiwan, but it now has locations all over the world, with several in Toronto.
My go-to spot is the one on Dundas Street. It’s relatively small, but its atmosphere is cozy.
I love just sitting in the corner and watching something on my iPad or catching up on a good book.
My favorite bubble tea here changes every time. I’m quite fond of the classic pearl milk tea, but if I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll try any of the flavored milk tea, such as the honeydew milk tea, chocolate malt milk tea, and salted caramel milk tea.
| Pro Tip: During peak hours (especially lunchtime), this spot can get quite packed. To avoid the crowd, I recommend coming here during the late afternoon. |
Gong Cha
Address: 5449 Yonge St, North York
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—12 pm to 12 am
- Friday—12 pm to 1 am
- Saturday—11 am to 1 am
- Sunday—11 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +16473462600
Gong Cha is another Taiwanese-based teahouse franchise that has grown in popularity all over the world. There are several branches in Toronto, but my favorite spot is the one on Yonge Street.
This franchise has classic options like pearl milk tea, brown sugar oolong milk tea, and taro red bean milk tea.
But I prefer the Creative Mix fruit Tea Options. In particular, I like mango green tea and strawberry-passion fruit Earl Grey with kanten jelly.
Gong Cha also has other drink options if you’re tired of bubble tea (an unlikely possibility, but you never know). You might want to try the coffee options or any of the smoothies.
| Pro Tip: Gong Cha often has seasonal drinks. Be sure to give one of them a try because you never know when you’ll be able to order it again. |
The Alley
Address: 5 St Joseph St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14169005126
The Alley is a Canadian teahouse that’s becoming a staple among bubble tea lovers in Toronto.
One reason it’s popular is its interior design. It gives off modern, chic vibes, making it a great place to do some work on your laptop.
When I’m here, I usually go for The Alley Trio Milk Tea, which has tapioca, pineapple jelly, and rainbow jelly.
I also really like the passionfruit green tea. It’s refreshing and not too sweet.
This shop also sells some other treats to go with your bubble tea. I particularly like to order a cookie or some kind of pastry.
Other times, I order a salad just to get my nutrients in.
| Pro Tips: You can host your party at The Alley! The Alley actually has an online shop as well. They sell scented candles (bubble tea-themed), stainless steel tumblers, and more. |
Real Fruit Bubble Tea
Address: Eaton Centre, 220 Yonge Street D201A CF
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +18888961829
Real Fruit Bubble Tea really lives up to its name: the bubble tea offerings here do use real fruit! There are no artificial preservatives, so this place is perfect for people who have to cut down on their sugar consumption but are still craving bubble tea.
The bestsellers are the Mango Diamond Slush and the strawberry banana smoothie. Both of them have pearls, but you can add more toppings if you want.
If you want the classic milk tea options, they also have them. Some of my favorite flavors include chocolate milk tea, golden roasted milk tea, and matcha jade milk tea.
| Pro Tip: This shop sells eGift Cards—the perfect gift for a fellow bubble tea lover. |
Baroness
Address: 421 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 pm to 12:30 am
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 1 am
Contact Number: +16479958760
If you’re in downtown Toronto, you might want to hit up Baroness. It’s an underrated gem with an aesthetically pleasing interior, and of course, the bubble tea here hits!
The menu boasts over 30 options, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So far, I’ve tried and loved the jasmine green milk tea and four season milk tea.
Next time, I want to try any of the Special Series, especially Lychee Paradise.
I’m also interested in the Sunset Series. The drinks in this series contain raw egg yolk to get that velvety texture, and I wonder how they would taste.
| Pro Tip: Baroness has an online store that sells DIY kits, allowing you to create your own bubble tea at home. |
Bobo Tea and Juice
Address: 62 Fort York Blvd
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14163420065
Bobo Tea and Juice is a tiny, underrated cafe, but don’t overlook it! This shop is adorable and cozy.
Just the bubble tea series alone comes with many options. My go-to order is the mocha milk tea, but I also really like the flavor tea choices, such as lychee, strawberry, and blueberry.
Aside from milk tea, you can find other sweet drinks here. Examples include milkshakes, smoothies, and slushies.
| Pro Tip: If the weather is clear and sunny, you might want to take a seat on the patio. That way, you can enjoy the cool breeze as you’re sipping your bubble tea. |
Tiger Sugar
Address: 439 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 to 11 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 1 am
Contact Number: +14165959898
Tiger Sugar is a dessert chain that started in Taiwan and now has locations in Toronto.
The most popular location is the one on Yonge Street. It has a very striking interior, thanks to the bold colors and modern furniture.
What I like about Tiger Sugar’s bubble tea is that it’s very decadent. They use black sugar, which is essentially white cane sugar except it hasn’t yet been refined.
The bubble tea here is also relatively thicker compared to others that I’ve tasted.
My favorite thing to order here is the black sugar boba and pearl milk with cream mousse. It does feel like it’s a beverage and a cake in one.
I also really like the black tea latte boba.
| Pro Tip: The shop sells gift sets, usually including pearl pineapple cake, ice cream bar, and popcorn. Order one of these sets for a friend (or maybe for yourself because you deserve another treat). |
CoCo Fresh Tea and Juice
Address: 371 Spadina Ave.
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +16473412996
CoCo Fresh Tea and Juice is another widely known global tea brand.
The menu is pretty extensive. I have to spend a few minutes just deliberating on which flavor to get.
The classic option is the pearl milk tea, but I also really like the Bubbe GaGa, which is passionfruit tea with coconut jelly and pearls. If it’s in season, I go for the mango green tea with crystal pearls because I find it very refreshing.
Some of the options here are even available as a hot drink! This is perfect if it’s cold outside but you still want your dose of bubble tea.
| Pro Tip: Since this spot is pretty popular, you might get stuck in a line, especially during peak hours. If you don’t want to deal with the crowd, come here during the afternoon. |
Benkei Hime Toronto Eaton Centre
Address: 220 Yonge St A004
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14169788688
I admit: I only approached Benkei Hime in Eaton Center because it looks so cute and inviting. But ultimately, it’s the menu of bubble tea (also adorably presented) that keeps me coming back for more.
I really like the Tarom Hime. I prefer mine with whipping cream and topped with yogurt popping pearl and brown sugar pearls.
The sweetness just hits me on all levels, which is enough to satisfy my cravings.
Other flavors that I really like here include mango grapefruit ice tea, lychee strawberry ice tea, and red velvet cake milk tea (this one is really indulgent).
| Pro Tip: Purchase a gift card for your friend who also loves bubble tea. |
The Krys Milktea Bar
Address: 110 Harbour St 2nd Floor
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Friday—11:30 am to 6 pm
- Tuesday to Thursday—11:30 am to 7 pm
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
The Krys Milktea Bar is another establishment that I checked out because I found the physical store aesthetically pleasing. But the moment I tasted the bubble tea here, I knew I was going to go back often.
Of all the teas I tried here, the brown rice green milk tea stood out the most. It’s sweet but with slightly bitter undertones.
Meanwhile, the taro milk tea was indulgent.
This store has other drink options that you might like as well. I’m curious about the fruit tea slush, fruit tea mix, and even the Teapresso offerings.
| Pro Tip: The Krys Milktea Bar offers catering services for events. |
Yi Fang
Address: 672 Yonge St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 to 10 pm
Contact Number: +16477480666
Yi Fang is a family-owned and operated business in Toronto, and it’s best known for its refreshing and delicious fruit-flavored tea.
I like that they don’t have preservatives in the drinks. Instead, only fresh fruits and tea sourced from Taiwan are used.
I really like the signature fruit tea, which is topped with all my favorite fruits (apple, orange, and pineapple), because it tastes sweet and refreshing. If I want something less citrusy, I go for the pearl black tea latte or the grass jelly black tea latte.
Aside from bubble tea, Yi Fang sells slushies, sugar cane juices, and yakult-based drinks.
| Pro Tip: Yi Fang often offers special drinks that are only available for a limited time. Give one a try if you can! |
Kung Fu Tea
Address: 264 Spadina Ave.
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11:30 am to 10:30 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11:30 am to 11:30 pm
Contact Number: +14162601519
Featuring an open drink bar, Kung Fu Tea is a casual teahouse that’s perfect for a lazy day or a chill hangout with friends.
My go-to order here is the chocolate milk tea, though the matcha milk tea with red beans is growing on me. I’m also a big fan of the cheese milk foam drinks, especially the ones with mango or chocolate.
When it’s extra hot outside, I like to order any of the floats because the added ice cream makes the drink even more refreshing. My favorite has to be the pearl cheese milk with ice cream.
| Pro Tip: Kung Fu Tea often offers special promotions like limited deals, discounts, or raffles. |
Bubble Baby
Address: 258 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—2 to 8 pm
- Friday and Saturday—2 to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14163511234
Bubble Baby is a tiny shop, but it’s one you can’t miss. How can you miss it with its brightly colored interior and adorable decorations?
The Bubble Baby Milk Tea is the signature drink, and it’s made with peach, strawberry, and lychee flavors. Lychee jelly and tapioca balls are the standard toppings, but you can add more if you want (I really like adding popping pearls).
Another reason I like this shop is that there are other desserts available. The bubble egg waffle is great to pair with my bubble tea, and the chocolate chip cookie is perfectly crispy and gooey at the same time.
| Pro Tip: There are limited seats inside the shop, so you’ll have to sit somewhere. Just outside is John Quay, so you might want to sit on the waterfront while drinking your bubble tea. |
Fruiteao
Address: 109 McCaul St Unit 39
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 9:30 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10:30 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14168503768
Having been around since 2009, Fruiteao offers a wide variety of beverage choices. Juices, slushes, and smoothies are the most popular, but you can also order fresh fruit teas and milk teas here.
For the bubble tea, you have several flavor options. I particularly like honeydew, strawberry, and chocolate.
Aside from milk tea, there are other drink options offered here. The fresh fruit smoothie is perfect when it’s really hot outside; you can add tapioca balls, grass jelly, and other toppings to make it resemble a bubble tea.
| Pro Tip: If you’re hungry and you want to eat something with your drink, there’s a Japanese restaurant (Manpuku Modern Japanese Eatery) next to the tea shop. You might want to check out the food there. |
CHICHA San Chen
Address: 60 Huron St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14163423099
I discovered CHICHA San Chen while I was scrolling on my phone and stumbled upon a video of someone trying it out. I did some research afterward, and I discovered that this establishment has actually been recognized by the Michelin Guide!
Needless to say, I was piqued. So, I went to the store, ordered the signature milk tea (it’s simply called bubble milk tea), and was thoroughly impressed!
The thing that struck me about this shop is that the bubble tea doesn’t taste artificial at all. The staff methodically brews their secret tea recipe, and you can really taste the light earthy notes of the leaves.
I also tried the High Mountain Pouchong Tea with Cream and Bubble, and I liked that one too. Its texture is creamy, almost like an ice cream, which is an interesting mouthfeel for a milk tea.
| Pro Tip: Come here as early as you can. Since it’s quite a popular spot, there are many people lining up. Plus, each cup of tea is brewed for every order, so it will take some time for the staff to get everyone’s orders. |
